I'm learning; June 18-22, 2010

June 18, 2010

After village walk to pray for people, encourage people, help where we could, etc. went to visit some of the mamas of the church.  Three women took us to their houses, where we prayed and learned about them.  We brought bread, beans and a few other things to give away.  It was very difficult though, every house we visited they would immediately show us: roofs that needed mending, walls that needed to be built; they would tell us; we don't have furniture, we want more things, etc.  It became very obvious that they had invited us to come over, so that we could buy them things, not just to be friends.  This was definitely an awakening.  In a culture with so many westerners coming through, the people of the village see white people as people who can buy things for them; not who genuiely want a long lasting relationship with them, where they can be empowered. 

We graciously stumbled through an explanation that we want to be their friends, not just supply everything they "need."  Obviously any real needs we would do what we could, but these things were not needs, they were wants-and I didn't want our friendships to be built around what we could supply for them.  That is not a real friedship.  They looked at us disappointed, however, this would be the beginning of a real friendship... although a tough beginning.

June 20, 2010

After church, went to visit a good friend; Fatima, who works in the kitchen.  She has two children that are mentally handicapped, as well as several other children that were in her home.  We sat around, prayed, sang, danced, laughed.  Came back, and took three of my friends to get cokes, and play cards.

Then all of a sudden fights broke out between some of the IRIS boys.  Tetra tried to discern what was going on, as we pulled the boys apart.  Went back to the center; and more fights broke out! As Tetra pulled Anselmo (an IRIS boy) off of another, he first is shaking with anger, then quickly begins to wail and heave with huge tears rolling down his cheeks.  We don't understand.

I see Antonio accross the lot, and walk over to say hi and it is good to see him back at IRIS.  His cuts are healing but he is still getting help from a friend to walk. He immediately asks me if I can talk with him privately; he asks me for money.  He says he needs medicine and that he cannot afford it.  I tell him, he should bring the prescription to the center and that when I go to town I can get it.  He gets upset with me that I don't want to help. ...WOW!  I really don't understand. I want to help, however, I don't want to feel manipulated into supplying money; I am learning...

June 22, 2010

Learned another Mozambican card game with my friends... played for hours in front of the church with many IRIS boys. Still so much to learn about this culture... beautiful but still a mystery.

Making friends... and jumping off a cliff; June 6-17, 2010

June 6-13, 2010

Week filled with lots of making friends, visiting friends in the village, praying for the sick, watching the World Cup, learning portuguese and makua, playing soccer, playing with my friends in the dirt, beach time, running early morning, instant coffee, taking a trip on a "pirate ship" ...ya know...the usual! ;-)

Had Q and A with Rolland... quote of a lifetime, "the christian life is a bit like jumping off a cliff; you have to be so convinced that normal life would be so boring on top off a cliff, that you would rather go splatt at the bottom then risk being bored the rest of your life."

June 14, 2010

Class and children's church... then went with Abdul (village boy), John (other student friend), Tetra and Ariell to visit a friend in the village, Antonio.  He had been attacked by a "bandito" the night before on his way home and had knife cuts on his legs and hands.  We prayed with him, encouraged him, visited with his father and brothers.  Brought him some beans and bread.

June 15, 2010

Ate peanut butter!!!

June 17, 2010

Morning session with Jackie Pullinger and then Heidi.  Visited Antonio, who was feeling much better. His wounds were healing and he was in much better spirits. 

Came home and started cooking for our Mozambican bible students, our color group (about 14 missionary students, and 14 Mozambican students) is having a dinner together.  We are making chicken curry! ...As we are sitting around, and serving them... one says, "chuva"...which means rain.  I said, "onde?" ..."where" ... 20 seconds later, it was pouring! ...We jumped up and crammed onto the lanai.  As the rain stopped, we sat around and (with a translator) shared testimonies, prayed, sang, danced... it was beautiful!

Lesson one of many...; June 2-5, 2010

June 2, 2010

School has officially begun... trying to wrap my head around my purpose in life...  The reason we were created, was TO BE LOVED BY GOD! ...Not to strive, not to do things, simply to be loved.  ...Much easier to live FROM love than FOR love; maybe that's why Jesus said His "yoke is easy and burden is light." WOW!!! Reality/identity check!

Got together to have a party with the Mozambican pastors; some of these guys have walked/traveled days to get here.  Believing God to take care of their family back at home (and He does EVERYTIME).  One pastor will get his tongue cut out, or knifed to death for preaching the gospel... and another will stand up and say, "I'll go, these people need to know the love of God." ...Wow, I have so much to learn.

June 3, 2010

...Heidi sang over me, "Princess" and a song about "The Father's Love." ...Lord help that sink in!

June 5, 2010

Met early morning to go through Hebrews 12:1-2 with an older IRIS girl, Suzette.  She invited to meet some of her "family" in a village near town.  Ariell, Tetra and Luisa (two roommates, and another student friend) came with me.  We were greeted with huge hugs and kisses.  Again used our broken portuguese to make small conversations as we sat around drinking Coke from a bottle! :)  We began dancing with her auntie and friends to fun Mozambican and American music.

They prepared a feast for us (they were probably the wealthiest family I had met in Mozambique); we had coconut rice, grilled chicken, chicken stew with potatoes, ensalada and sheema (ricemeal and water).  So delicious! ...We had brought drink, ice cream and cookies (biscuits) so we sat around, learned a local card game and celebrated!

...When I arrived back to IRIS I sat with Ben and someother boys, learning his story of how he came to IRIS.  He has 9 sisters, 2 sisters and his father died when he was 7, as well as his mother.  He met Mama Aida in Maputo and came to live at IRIS soon after... I still have so much to learn.

First Impressions; May 29-June 1, 2010

May 29, 2010

We arrived in Pemba, at the smallest airport I have ever seen!  After an hour or so going through customs and collecting luggage, we were met by several hugs and smiles from IRIS staff and some children along to help.  We tossed our bags into one large truck, and all piled into another... after about 30 minutes of trying to start the trucks-we were rescued by another truck and went to the center in groups.  Unpacked, bought water, toilet paper, took a shower and went to sleep to the sounds of a worship party right outside my window.

May 30, 2010

Went up for breakfast; bread roll and hot tea...then headed to church. Oh the beautiful sounds of worship and dancing.  Almost instantly my hands were full of the hands of children, ready to swing around and worship Jesus.  When the message began, I found my seat among the women (widows/mamas).  I could not tell if they desired my company or resented it.  Yet, as soon as I smiled, they would meet me with the most precious smiles; ear to ear!

...After church and lunch of rice and beans, my roommate (Ariell) and I headed to the beach.  Passing human poop and piles of rubbish we found ourselves on fine white sand and gently rolling waves. ...We were quickly met by 20, then 50, then 100 children.  It was unreal!  They were beautiful! ...We finally found a boy who spoke portuguese and with our broken spanish and a little portuguese, we began to learn their names and ages.  As they taught us words in Makua (their heart language), we taught them how to spray each other with water.  We played games, had races and just laughed for hours. ...

As we returned I had told two boys that I would watch the soccer game with them; Ben and Luis.  Ben was having dinner with Mama Aida that night, so Luis and I chatted as he told me about his journey to IRIS.  Luis had lived with his siblings and parents in Beira, yet his father died and mother could not support them.  His mother was a friend of Mama Aida's, and what else would a friend do; but offer her a job.  They moved to Maputo then Pemba and his mother worked in the kitchen at IRIS.  (She later became one of my good friends at IRIS, Mama Lordis.)

June 1,2010

Children's Day Celebration
*blow up balloons
*fill up bags of sweets
*feed thousands of children
*wash dishes and sing songs
*do it all with joy and love for the one in front of me...